2: martial arts master

Martial Artist, Star Force, Intuition, Star Force Body Armor, Muscle Memory, Unwavering Will, Qi Sea, Strength Energy Control.

Abilities are divided into Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Star Level, representing an ability's strength. However, one cannot perfectly control an ability immediately after absorbing it; continuous practice is required for proficiency and strength to increase.

The Martial Artist template requires seven abilities. Only Intuition is Star Level. Star Force, Star Force Body Armor, Unwavering Will, Qi Sea, and Strength Energy Control are all Gold Level, while Muscle Memory is Silver Level.

The overall price of the template abilities is much lower than other top-tier professions. Lin Ye compared it to the Dragonman's. The Dragonman has seven abilities: Dragon Heart, Dragon Body, Dragon Soul, Dragon Blood, Dragon Bone, Dragon Scale, and Dragon Transformation. Except for Dragon Scale, which is Gold Level, all other abilities are Star Level.

What surprised Lin Ye even more was that due to different Dragon bloodlines, the Dragon-type abilities produced also had different bloodlines. For example, a Cyanflame Dragon would have a Cyanflame Dragon Heart, and a Red Dragon would have a Red Dragon Heart. To become a Dragonman, one needed to possess a complete set of abilities from the same bloodline.

The generation of ability seeds relies on luck. Although higher-level exotic beasts have a higher drop rate, an adult seventh-tier Dragon typically drops only two to three ability seeds. If one is lucky, killing three of the same Dragons might yield a complete set of abilities. If not, how many Dragons would one have to kill?

"No wonder they say Dragonmen are 'pay-to-win' warriors. This set of abilities must cost nearly a billion," Lin Ye thought.

Star Level abilities usually cost around 100 million, with Dragon-type ones doubling that price. Gold Level abilities are often only seven or eight million, Silver two million, and Bronze five hundred thousand.

If an ability is not suitable for a professional template, its price will drop significantly.

Due to national subsidies, ordinary residents can often get half off the cost, and students like Lin Ye can get even more off their initial abilities, paying only about ten percent. With bank loans, Lin Ye currently doesn't have to worry about acquiring abilities.

Of course, subsidies are limited to Gold and below. Star Level abilities are in short supply, so there's no possibility of subsidies.

Having made up his mind, Lin Ye planned to apply for the core Martial Artist ability, Star Force, after tomorrow's test. He then did a set of body tempering exercises, quickly took a shower, and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day.

Since it was test day, the school didn't arrange morning exercises. After arriving at school at seven o'clock, he didn't even have time to say a few words to his deskmate before rushing to the examination hall under his homeroom teacher's instructions.

The cultural exam was not difficult. It lasted three hours, with a total score of 300 points, accounting for thirty percent of the total grade. It covered five basic subjects: Common Ability Studies, Chinese, Mathematics, Physics, and History. Those not pursuing the ability user path had already branched off and would not take this exam; their subjects would also be more numerous, similar to Lin Ye's high school in his previous life.

After finishing the exam at ten o'clock, the physical test began at ten-twenty, covering strength, speed, stamina, reaction, body strength, Star Power, and so on. Due to advanced technology, the testing was very fast, and it was mostly completed by eleven o'clock.

"Finally done with the test, Old Lin, how did you do?" This was Lin Ye's deskmate, Peng Junkai, a two-meter muscular man even taller and stronger than Lin Ye.

"Just so-so. The test has been conducted many times, and my current level isn't much different from usual," Lin Ye shrugged.

This test was only to ensure the authenticity of the results. Everyone's usual data had already been recorded. High school students, before acquiring abilities, usually don't experience significant changes in their physical fitness in a short period.

Peng Junkai smirked and put his arm around Lin Ye's shoulder, asking, "How about it? Still decided on Shield Warrior? Shield Warrior is such a tough job, brother, I'm really worried for you. Why don't you choose Titan like me? I've talked to my dad, and he'll sponsor you."

Titan is a lower-tier substitute for Colossus, a high-grade professional template that boasts Shield Warrior-level defense while also having decent offense.

Lin Ye pushed Peng Junkai away in disgust.

"Kai-ge, stay away from me. Titan is out of the question. Growing into a three or four-meter giant would really mess with my looks. I plan to choose Martial Artist." Lin Ye's looks were actually only average, but no man isn't confident about his own appearance.

Kai-ge was displeased. "Big is handsome, big is beautiful! When I transform into a four-meter muscle-bound behemoth rampaging through the Star Realm, you'll understand the beauty of Titan. Martial Artist? I've heard a little about it. What's it like? Is it similar to Fighter?"

High school only teaches the common dozen or so ability templates, their applications, and cultivation techniques. Other abilities are only briefly introduced, and even Lin Ye didn't know much about them before last night.

Information barriers exist in all worlds. If no one guides them, most people often don't realize they need to break through these barriers.

"It's different from Fighter. Fighters cultivate various body techniques, boxing, kicking, movement, grappling, and so on. Martial Artists, however, cultivate force energy, transforming Star Power into a more powerful force that can both temper the body and enhance skill power."

Fighter is one of the common professions, known for its techniques, and high school students are quite familiar with it.

Kai-ge's eyes widened. While Lin Ye was talking, he had already searched on his optical computer. Optical computers were prohibited during exams and would be blocked, but they weren't prohibited in daily life. Even if you secretly played on your optical computer during a cultural class, the teacher wouldn't care; you were responsible for your own future.

"Holy crap, a top-tier profession, Old Lin, you've struck it rich!"

The surrounding classmates also looked at Lin Ye, "Lin Ye, did you inherit an inheritance or something? How did you suddenly rise up?"

"Damn, in our class, only Boss Sun and Wang Laoban chose top-tier professions, right?"

"I just checked, it seems Martial Artist focuses more on comprehension, and the cost seems to be slightly lower than Kai-ge's Titan." Only then did the surrounding classmates realize. Lin Ye's comprehension was indeed good; he could cultivate the ninth set of the National Middle School Body Tempering Method to the 'minor accomplishment' realm. Among all students of the same age in Tianhai City, Lin Ye could rank in the top hundred, while most classmates were only at the 'proficient' level.

Lin Ye gave Kai-ge a disgusted look. Kai-ge was generous and loyal, but his big mouth couldn't keep a secret.

The atmosphere became lively, and several good brothers also started chatting. Boys are undoubtedly masters at bragging and joking. Due to the homeroom teacher's seating arrangement, girls were in one group and boys in another. There weren't many girls in Lin Ye's class, only about ten out of fifty-seven students. So everyone chatted without inhibition, occasionally touching on topics that all men love.

The male-to-female ratio among ability users is roughly even, but girls tend to prefer speed-type or magic-type professions, and Lin Ye's class mainly trained warriors, so there weren't many girls.

Soon, the test results were out, and the homeroom teacher, Old Liu, came to the classroom.

"Quiet, everyone. The test results are out, and they're about the same as usual. The ability seed application form has been sent to the class group. According to regulations, everyone in the top seven hundred can apply to purchase Gold Level abilities at a ten percent discount. Please fill in your desired abilities according to your scores. The abilities will be delivered at 2:30 PM, and soldiers will guard you during absorption. All right, fill them out quickly; I'll upload them in ten minutes."

The class immediately fell silent, all using their optical computers to apply.